No action till Feb 26, Centre informs Madras High Court

Chennai, Jan 20 (UNI) The Centre today informed the Madras High Court that it would not do anything till February 26, with regard to demolition of the Andal Alagar Marriage hall in Koyambedu, owned by DMDK Founder President and actor-turned politician Vijayakanth.

This was informed to the Court by Additional Solicitor General V T Gopalan, when the suit filed by Premalatha, wife of Vijayakanth, challenging the demolition order, came up for hearing before Mr Justice V Ramasubramaniam.

The judge ordered notice to the Centre and Union Minister T R Baalu and posted the hearing to February three.

When the case came up for hearing, Senior Counsel Rajeev Dhawan appearing for the petitioner submitted that there were no particulars about the persons owning the land sought to be acquired in the notification.

As per the Supreme Court decision, all the particulars should be mentioned in the notification. The alternative plan given by the petitioner was also not considered by the Centre.

Union Minister T R Baalu had made a statutory promise in March 2006 that the alternative proposal would be considered but after the election, he rejected the same without any reason.

Because of the promise, the petitioner had not taken any steps, he added.

Mr Gopalan submitted that once declaration was made under section 3 (D) (2) of National Highway Act, the Centre was the absolute owner of the property. As on date, the Centre was the owner of the land.

The petitioner's contention was that they do not know which portion of the land was going to be acquired.

The notification had clearly stated the description. On publication of the declaration under the Act, the property absolutely vests with the Centre. On December 18, 2006, an award of Rs 8.58 crore was passed.

As per the apex court order, once an award was passed, the Court cannot interfere in it. After the award, on December 28, 2006 a statutory notice contemplating was issued calling upon the petitioner to take the compensation and hand over the land. The notice was refused by the petitioner.

Hence, till February 26, the Centre cannot take any action and will not initiate any action, he added.

UNI